Positive latch controlled hinge for davenports or sofa beds



March 21, 1950 s s. BERNSITEIN 2,501,464

POSITIVE LATCH CONTROLLED HINGE FOR DAVENPORTS OR'SOFA BEDS Filed May29, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5444054 .5 flea/$75 I N V E N TO R March 21,1950 s. s. :BERNSTEIN 2,501,454

POSITIVE LATCH coumomsuumcs FOR DAVENPORTS ORSQFA BEDS Filed May 2 19442 Sheets-$heet 2 5244051. 5 EEE/VSTE/N,

, INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 21, 1950 qrrsu'r OFFICF POSITIVE'LATCH CONTROLLED HINGEFOR DAVENPQRTS OR SOFA BEDS Samuel S. Bernstein,Los Angeles, Galif.,assignor to The Signal Manufacturing. Company, Los Angeles, Calif., acorporation of Californiav Application May 29, 1944; SerialL No.537:.768

1 Claim. 1

= Davenports or similar articles of furniture which are convertible intobeds utilize a hinge pivotall-y connecting. the seat frame and backframe at each end, and are usually provided with a: linkage establishingthe correct coupling between. such parts and the base of the davenport.

(Sonventionally, the hinge is: of a. type which will function enablingmanipulation of'the davenport as follows: Assuming that the davenport(such an article of furniture being used byway of example? and" not oflimitation) is in: normal angled' relationship, and the seat portion maythen be lowered to rest upon the base, the seat and'back thus restingupon'the base in the same planeand immediately adjacent. When thearticleof furniture is to be restored to the form of a. davenport, the seatportion is again elevated to reestablish the latched condition of thehinge whereby the seat and back are secured in angled relationship, andthe seat portion is then, swung down upon the base which automaticallyelevates the backinto normal davenport position.

Suitable hingesnow in use dependupon gravity actuated elements forlatching and. unlatching the hinge to operate it. As the weight-of thegravity actuated elements is relatively slight, rust on'the' hingeelements, or the presence of cloth threads: or pieces, tufts of cottonor other fibrous material, lint, or" dirt, or' any other adheringforeign substance, even paint, which may foul the operating elementswill prevent the hinge from functioning as intended. Such frequently'oo'cu'rs, and renders it impossible sometimes to convert the davenportinto a bed and sometimes to change the bed back intoa davenport.Inasmuch as in properly finished davenports the hinges are concealed. byupholstery and practically" inaccessible, such'inoperativeness of thehinges is. notonly annoying but renders the'furniture useless until arepair man can remove the obstruotingmaterial from the. hinges.

It is object of my invention to provide. a

"hinge construction for the purposes specified in which the operatingelements. for latching and unlatchihg the'hinge .in its: respectivepositions 'areactuated byipositive-mechanical means inde- -.penden:t1yofgravity'.

More. particularly it is an object of my invention toprovide animprovement in a hinge of the. character described which embodies a.latch bar between the leaves or plates of the hinge formed with anotchfor engagement with or disengagement from a. pin or stop in theoperation. of the hinge, the improvement being characterized by avcontrol device operated by a positive cam action while engaging ordisengaging the latch bar-with or from the pin or stop.

A further object ofmy invention is to provide an improvement in hingesof the character described which. is no more expensive to manufacturethan conventional hinges intended for the some purposes, and in whichthe mechanical elements which characterize the improvement areinterchangeable with elements of conventional type, in other words, maybe substituted for such conventional elements to convert a conventionalhinge into one utilizing. my improvement.

A still further object of my invention is'to pro-- vide a. smootheroperating latching mechanism than is afforded by the devices of the.prior art.

These and other objects of my invention will become further apparentfrom a consideration of the description which follows taken inconjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isxan end elevation with the upholstering cover removed. of adavenport' construction' utilizing my improved hinge.

Figure 2' is an enlarged fragmentary section at the-opposite end of thedavenport illustrating the hinge parts in position to sustain thed'avenport back in. normal davenport position.

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view illustrating the first step ofconverting the davenport into a bed.

Figure 4 illustrates a further manipulation to accomplishthis purpose.

Figure 5 illustrates downward movement of the seat after the hinge latchhas been released.

Figure 6' illustrates the back and seat resting on. the base inthe sameplane for bed position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section similar to Figure 2 of a modified formof my invention.

Figures-8, 9 and 10 are similar sectional views of the; modified formillustrating successive steps of converting the davenport into a bed.

Figure 11 is a detailview of the lower end of the latch bar, showing amodified, construction of the pawl. I

'The: first formv of my improved hinge I5 is illustrated in Figure l andis illustrated in connection with a davenport I6, the upholstering 3 ofwhich is outlined in broken lines. The davenport comprises essentially abase ll of any conventional or otherwise suitable constructionsupporting a seat (3 which in turn through the agency of a pair of myhinges I5 sustains a back l9. The seat I8 includes a frame element 26which normally rests flat upon the upper surface 21 of the base I1, andthe back l9 includes a, frame element 22. These frame elements 26 and 22of the seat and back respectively may be suitably upholstered in anyconventional or desirable manner, and the davenport may includeupholstered. ends or arm rests 23. The construc tion of the davenportitself is not apart of my invention, but one form of suchdavenport ishere illustrated as described for the purpose of illustrating theenvironment of my invention. One of my hinges i5 is employed at each endof the davenport (or at each side of a chair if used on a chair whichcan be converted into a bed). The hinges at opposite ends (or sides)will be right and left hand respectively to accommodate their respectivepositions of installation. Whether right or left hand merely involvesthe placing of the operating movable parts of the hinge control to belocated on the inside face of the hinge as installed, which is usuallyon the same side of the hinge plates as the mounting flanges. This is aninconsequential detail as far as the spirit of my invention isconcerned, such location of the moving parts being for the purpose ofmaintaining the opposite sides of the hinge plates clear for theoperation of conventional linkages between the hinge and the base of thedavenport. The hinge shown in Figure 1 is at the near end of thedavenport and is therefore viewed from outside, the upholstering coverbeing removed. The hinge illustrated in Figures 2 to 6 is the onelocated at the opposite end of the davenport and is therefore viewedfrom the inside.

My hinge l5 comprises complementary plates 25 and 26, being flat membersof any suitable design but preferably tapered as illustrated,overlapping at the end region of the taper and pivotally united at suchoverlapping portion by a pintle 21. Each plate is formed with a rightangle mounting flange 28 and 29, respectively, used for securing theplates to the seat frame and back frame 22, respectively, by means ofscrews 30. These mounting flanges are not essential to the invention, asthe plates may be secured upon the frames by other'means if desired.

I provide a latching mechanism 35 between the two hinge plates. Thismechanism includes a latch bar 36 pivotally mounted at 31 on the platenear the base end thereof and extendable over the face of the plate 26.In the illustrated positions of use and operation which are usual thislatch bar 36 will settle by gravity into the required latching positionand is long enough and heavy enough to so function. However, anauxiliary horseshoe spring 46 may be employed to supplement thegravityaction. This spring 46 is anchored at one end'on the plate 25 by:means of a pin 4| on the plate, and at its other a stop lug 45. Someother form of stop may be substituted for the lug 45.

The latch bar 36 is adapted to engage with a stop 46 rigidly mounted onthe hinge plate 26. As illustrated, this stop 46 is in the form of aC-shaped guard but the primary function of the stop 46 is provided by ashort leg 41 extending at a right angle from the plate 26. It is thisleg 47 which the notch 43 and the surface 44 engages, and a simple pin,a shouldered rivet, a lug or ear struck from the latch bar itself, orany other similar or suitable stop device may be employed in lieu of theguard form 46.

Pivotally mounted on the latch bar 36 near the free end thereof is acontrol pawl 50 having its pivotal mounting at 5|. The pivot 5| ispreferably located between the notch 43 and. the stop 45 and somewhatabove these other elements. The pawl 50 is formed with a slot 52 open atone end and of a size to be engageable with and disengageable from theleg 4'! of the stop 46. A part of the control pawl forms a cam finger 53functioning as hereinafter described. The stop 45 extends across theplane of the pawl 56 for engaging the same; and a stop '49 on the latchbar limits the pawl 50 at its opposite extreme of movement.

Conventional linkages are employed with my improved hinge as follows: Alink 56 pivotally mounted at its lower end at 51 on the base I! ispivotally mounted at its upper end on the pintle 21 of the hinge. Asecond link 58 is pivotally mounted at its lower end at 59 on the baseI! and at its upper end at 60 on the plate 26 of the hinge. This linkage56 and 58 is for the purpose of controlling the relationship betweenthe. base, the seat, and the back in accordance with principles wellknown in the art.

In the operation of this form of the invention it is assumed that therespective parts 01' the davenport are positioned as illustrated inFigures 1 and 2 which is the normal arrangement. In this position, theframe 20 of the seat is resting flat upon the platform 2! of the basei1, and the back frame 22 is supported in upright position by the notch43 in the latch bar 36 engaging the stop 46 on the hinge plate 26. v Forshifting the parts to convert the davenport into a bed, the seat frame26 is elevated to the position shown in Figure 3, whereupon the backframe 22 lowers by gravity until the frame 22 rests upon the platform2!. With the notch 43 engaging the stop 46, the hinge plates are heldopen and the seat cannot be lowered into the same plane as the loweredback. In order to disengage the notches from the stop, the seat frame 20is swung slightly beyond the point necessary to rest the back upon theplatform, into the position shown in Figure 4. This action pulls thelatch bar 36 upwardly and forces the pawl 56 to ride up over the stop 46with a cam action due to the fact that the opposite edge of the pawl isstopped against the element 45. This operation elevates the notch end ofthe latch bar 36 disengaging the notch 43 from the stop 46, and afterthe disengagement has sumciently progressed, the pawl 56 has moved tothe point where the open slot 52 coincides with the position of the stop46 permitting the pawl 50 to drop down upon the stop as shown in Figurev4. Reverse movement of the seat, that is to say a lowering of the same,will then effect an operation of the latching mechanism as followszf'thepawl 50 being supported by the stop 46 and pivotally connected to thelatch bar 36 elevates the latter when the pawl pivots into the positionshown in Figure 5, the swinging or. the-pawl stopping upon contact ofthe pawl with the stop 49 on the latulr latchqbar is retained in anelevated position until the notch 43 has passed over the stop 46'whereupon the pawl 50 slips off of the stop 46, and the lower: edge 36aof the latch-bar rides upon the; to the position shown in Figure 6wherein the seatrests upon the platform 2| in the same planeas the back;whereby the furniture is converted" into a bed.

Iir changing the furniture from a bed back into a. davenport' the seatisfirst elevated to a sharp angle to' the back; as for 'examplein'Figure 3,:whereupon the notch 43 engages thesto-p 4B, and thereupon theseat maybe: 'l-owereduponthe base thereby forcing the b'aclrtov swing;upiinto position shown in Figures 1 and,

It will be noted, that the action of the pawl 50 is not dependent upongravity, thegpawl' being positively forced by actiian of; itsco-relatled' or associated partsinto its different operatingpositions. Ihave found by test that this improved mechanism will not fail to operateeven when for purposes of demonstration the pawl is fouled with threads,fabric or other foreign material of the character which causes thepresent conventional of the invention illushinge plates and 2B pivotallyconnected by pintle 21' in the same manner as in the first describedform. Other elements not specifically redescribed are obviously thesame, as appears by the drawings, and the description of the first formof the invention.

The difference in the two forms resides in the details of the positivelatch control, although the principle of operation is the same in bothforms and I deem one to be an equivalent of the other. In thisalternative form I provide a latch bar 36' pivotally mounted at 31' uponthe plate 25'. In the end of the link opposite the pivot 31' is anelongated notch 43' for engagement with a stop pin or lug 46', thelatter being secured in and extending from the plate 26. A pawl in theform of a finger 50 is pivoted at 5| upon the latch bar -36' and islimited in its rotational movement by oppositely disposed stop pins and49.

In operating this form of the] invention, the same sequence of movementsis employed as in operating the first described form; When the seat iselevated to the position shown in full lines in Figure 8, the concaveedge of the pawl 50 rides over the pin 45 elevating. the end of thelatch bar 36, and after the v{endof fthe pawl 50 passes over the pin thelatch bardrops so that a different portion of the elongated notch 43'receives the pin 46': then upon lowering of the seat and consequentswinging of the hinge the convex edge of the pawl 50 acts as a cam toengage the pin 46' thereby elevatingthe latch and independent ofgravity, the. several: more; inentsz-of' the pawl 50." being positivelyactuated mechanical f orce. in the *manner described" Am importantfeatureof" my invention. is the stopdGL-Gor 45 for releasing the latchbar.

runcti'onali improvement is: dependent to acorn sifderableextent. on thepositive control of position ot the pawl, the latter being rotated. toeither one or its two extremes; by' direct thrust against the". stop- 35 (or G6)... which. thrust. is positivelyapplied by the operator inmoving the seat: or? the 'davenport described.v Alsothe limitstopsw 419M415' and ll-'9") positively stop the. pawl at the. extremesv of movementwhereby theeamisurfaceor the pawl cannot. further yield but must rideover the stop lfiior it")- Inthe first form, the stop 45. in connectionwith the slot of the pawl 50 prevents the latch bar from being pulledentirely away from the stop 46. In the second form, the hook 43a at theouter end of the elongated slot 43' performs such functions. In bothforms, the action issuch that an audible click is heard when the pawlcompletes its function in either direction, thus informing the user thatthe hinge is conditioned for the desired operation.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I haveconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of myinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent structures. As examples, other means than the limitstops 45 and 49 (45' and 49') might be employed. Thus, equivalent stops45" might be located on the pawl itself positioned to engage the edge ofthe latch bar at the extreme positions of the pawl, see Fig. 11.Projections of suitable form mounted on the latch bar would beequivalent to the notches 43 (or 43) shown and described, and the termvnotches as employed in the claim is intended to include such avariation. Equivalent reversal of any of the parts, or a change of form,may be employed within the essence of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

A hinge for use with a davenport bed having a base, a seat frame and aback frame comprising: a pair of plate members, one end of each platemember carrying a mounting flange, the opposite ends of said platemembers being pivotally connected; a latch bar having one end pivotallyconnected to one of the plate members adjacent its mounting flange, saidlatch bar having a lower edge provided with a notch adjacent the freeend of the latchbar, said notch terminating at front and rear shoulders;a stationary lock bar carried by the other of said plate members andarranged to be received in said notch; a finger pawl provided with arearward, concave edge and a convex front edge, pivotally connected tothe latch bar adjacent the notch therein; a pair of spaced lugs carriedby the latch bar adjacent the pawl for limiting pivotal movement of thepawl between a frontal position whereinthe finger pawl is in contactwith one of the stop-lugs and extends beyond the notch with the frontand rear pawl edges in spaced relation to the front and rear shouldersof the notch, and a position in contact with said other lug wherein thefingerpawl extends rearwardly beyond the notch and covers the rearshoulder of the notch to cam said latch bar out of engagement with thelock bar; and spring means biasing the latch bar downwardly against thestationary lock bar whereby the plates are locked against pivotalmovement in one-direction when the lock bar is in the notch and bearsagainst the rear shoulder thereof, said plates being arranged to beunlocked by restricted pivotal movement of the plates in an oppositedirection, said finger pawl in its frontal position translating suchopposite pivotal movement into movement of the latch bar whereby thelock bar extends into the notch between the front shoulder thereof andthe front edge of the pawl, said front edge of the pawl guiding thelock'bar into the lower edge of the latch bar when the pawl is in therearward position.

SAMUEL S. BERNSTEIN.

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